How Do You Stay Motivated on an Exercise Bike?
By Pigglies
@Pigglies (9329)
United States
January 5, 2010 1:13am CST
Since I can't run every day, I'm using the exercise bike to build endurance as well. However, the problem is that it gets pretty boring. I can do 30 minutes on the exercise bike (generator powered where you must keep the speed up to where it's about 20mph effort no matter what "hills" are thrown at you). After 30 minutes, I start getting really bored and it doesn't help that since I'm not outside, the sweating gets really bad too. But mostly it's boredom.
I've tried the radio, and sometimes it makes me go too fast but eventually I even get bored of that. I can't hear audio books over the sound of the exercise bike. I used to sit and ride it and think about papers I was writing and stuff like that when I was in school, but now I don't have to think about that type of stuff anymore.
So what motivates you to stay on the exercise bike? Do you play silly games or solve math problems in your head? I want to get up to at least a 3 hour endurance level eventually. Right now I can do an hour.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
5 Jan 10
Have you tried to imagine you are riding through the forest in the fall? I have a vivid imagination so I would picture riding through the woods in the fall. I picture the golden and red leaves and good size hills.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
9 Jan 10
Wow, do you realize how much money your imagination saves you? I've seen exercise bikes with video screens on them that show these types of things, and they are not cheap!
I'll have to try closing my eyes and imagining.
Today I was supposed to ride the exercise bike for a bit, but I think that my legs are too sore and since I'll be running 10 miles tomorrow I decided to skip the bike ride.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
9 Jan 10
Sounds like a good idea.Please let me know the dates when you have your runs. I want to wish you luck but I'll need help to remember when to work those the pom poms and shoot you a message.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
10 Jan 10
Thanks. I will wish you luck right before the race. I am not sure what I'll be doing Feb7th.I would hate to say I'll watch only to find I'm not able. Besides I think I wil be too nervous to watch. But with that said if there is anything i can do . Or there is something you need to tell me, feel free to message me.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
5 Jan 10
I usually put on my headphones and have a list of my favorite songs. Perhaps just letting your mind wander, sometimes ppl will kind of zone out if they just let their mind drift...you know, kind of like meditation.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STANDING STRONG IN MY BELIEFS**[/b]
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
9 Jan 10
I guess I just don't have enough songs I like. I'll keep trying with the radio.
I do usually let my mind wander, but that's easier if I have a bunch of stuff to think through. Although I also do a lot of that while I'm running (and while running I'll usually plan out my next race strategy over and over in my head).
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
15 Jan 10
I've still never run on a treadmill yet, but I often wonder how bored I would get. The thing I worry about, is how sweaty I would get without the wind factor. Because while running, I get really sweaty. But on a bicycle, I don't get too sweaty. Yet on the exercise bike, I am pouring off sweat just because there is no wind to help it evaporate.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
11 Jan 10
I am a daydreamer by nature. I daydream while I'm trying to fall asleep, while I'm driving the car, whenever I'm bored and not doing something to occupy my mind. I used to do it at school too, and even zone out so I didn't hear what my teacher was saying.
I've been trying to work on daydreaming while I'm at the gym and running on the treadmill. I did it once, but I've not been able to do it since. I think there are just too many distractions, so it's too hard to focus on my daydreaming.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
11 Jan 10
I go to the gym everyday and work out for an hour to an hour and a half. I like to start on the treadmill or stairmaster, then move on to something a little easier like a bike, or the elliptical machines.
Even half an hour does drag by real slow when you're on a machine like that. The gym I go to has a wide array of magazines, and I'll grab one or two before I get on a machine, that way I have something interesting to look at. They also have TV's on, although you can't hear them, but I'll look up at the TV's now and then to get an idea of what is going on. One TV is a news channel, and even though you can't hear it, you can still see the headlines so you have a slight idea as to what it's about.
I am thinking of getting a few books to read while I'm there. I like to read, so having a novel to read will probably make that hour fly by quickly!
@macdingolinger (10385)
• United States
18 Jan 10
Maybe watching television or movies might be an option. I use my exercise time to pray, meditate and think things through. Solving math problems is fun too! Just keep going that's the main thing! I miss my bike!
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
18 Jan 10
That would be great if I could watch TV while on the bike, because I never get to watch TV as much as I want. But there is no way to get TV into the garage. Before the DTV switch their would have been as I had an extra tiny camping TV with an antenna. But now that doesn't work.
@AmandaMBF (284)
• Brazil
8 Jan 10
I can't... It's very boring... I prefer the common bikes!!! I can't use a bike that stay ever in the same place!!!!!
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
9 Jan 10
That's how I used to be too, but the exercise bike is more constant exercise, building up my endurance more. On a regular bicycle every time I go downhill I get a nice break. But I still like to go out on the real bike too! I'm even considering doing a century ride sometime this year.
